Stranded NASA Astronaut Goes on First Space Walk Since Getting Stuck

One of the two astronauts stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) has taken their first space walk since arriving at the station nearly seven months ago.

Suni Williams went for the space walk on Thursday, Jan. 16 to help NASA’s Nick Hague with some outside repair work, according to the Associated Press.

“I’m coming out,” Williams, 59, said as she exited the ISS for the first time since arriving there seven months prior with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore.

The pair originally entered space in June 2024 for what was supposed to be a weeklong test flight of a Boeing Starliner capsule, but their return got delayed after their spacecraft experienced mechanical issues and was eventually sent back home without them.

Originally, NASA was hoping to have the two astronauts back on Earth in February, but their return was delayed last month until at least March.

NASA previously said it is working with SpaceX to “complete processing” on a new Dragon spacecraft for the mission. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program said the process “is a painstaking endeavor that requires great attention to detail.”

“We appreciate the hard work by the SpaceX team to expand the Dragon fleet in support of our missions and the flexibility of the station program and expedition crews as we work together to complete the new capsule’s readiness for flight,” Stich said in his statement in December 2024.

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This was the eighth space walk of Williams’ career, according to the AP.

In November 2024, Williams told NBC News that she and Wilmore were “feeling good, working out [and] eating right” while stuck at the ISS.

“It’s just awesome,” she said at the time. “We have a lot of fun up here too. People who are worried about us, really, don’t worry about us … we’re a happy crew up here.”